Children's home run by Bettercare Keys Ltd in Belfast

Requires improvement

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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The children’s home provision requires improvement because:

 The service has not had a full complement of staff for several months. This has included not having a registered manager. While the deputy manager has acted up as the manager, there has been no replacement in this role until the week before this inspection. There have been other core staff absences, including senior residential workers. This has had some effect on the overall oversight of the service, and the delivery of consistent care. As a result, for a period, young people’s daily life experiences have not been constantly positive.  Staff have had difficulty in managing young people’s behaviour. This has been due to the initial mix of young people. Young people’s negative and risk-taking behaviour has fluctuated, resulting in some incidents of police intervention and criminalisation.  A full education timetable has not been provided for one young person, including a lack of good and coherent oversight by a qualified teacher, to

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The children’s home provision requires improvement because:

ensure the young person’s continued educational progress.  Young people have accessed illegal drugs in the local community and this adversely affected their behaviour and health. This has been an ongoing issue at the home.

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The children’s home’s strengths

 The acting manager has worked tirelessly to bring continuity of care to young people, by using regular agency workers when there have been deficits within the staff team.  Staff build strong positive relationships and attachments with young people.  The acting manager recognises the strength and weakness of the service. This includes making it a priority to focus more stringently on new placements to make sure that the needs of the individual can be met alongside those of the young people already residing at the home.  Staff have taken action to safeguard young people, and to raise their awareness to the dangers and risks they may put themselves in.  An increase in staffing levels has provided young people with one-to-one support and supervision to better meet their needs and keep them safe.  There has been a strong focus on working collaboratively with other professionals to safeguard and protect young people.

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The children’s home’s strengths

 Young people have experienced new life experiences and activities. For example, going to the coast, participating in art and bike maintenance. This has built on their self-confidence and enjoyment in pursuing hobbies and interests.  The regulation 44 monitoring system has identified shortfalls, with action taken to address deficiencies to improve the quality of care and safety of young people.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

14. In order to meet the care planning standard, in particular that there is accurate matching and assessment of referrals based on up-to-date information of all children, including those already living in the home, the registered person must ensure: (1) that children: (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home (b) have a positive experience of or arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)) 28 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manager the children’s home if: There is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)) 28 June 2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Children should be in full-time education while they are of compulsory school age, unless their personal education plans contained within the care plan or other relevant plan state otherwise. The home must aim to support full-time attendance at school unless the child’s relevant plan indicates that this is not in their best interests (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, p 28, paragraph 5.14). This should include good oversight, and frequent and direct input into lessons to support young people to make educational progress.  When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such

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Recommendations

interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, p 45, paragraph 9.30). In particular, all return home interviews should be recorded.  The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, p 56, paragraph 11.4). In particular, taking into account the deficits of the home’s location, which includes access to illegal drugs within the local community, and accepting only suitable placements, where each young person’s safety in this respect is considered.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a children’s home owned by a private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

28 October 2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

3 February 2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Requires improvement

Staff work hard to build strong relationships with young people, some of whom are hard to reach. They have a clear understanding of the diverse needs of each young person and their care needs. A young person said, ‘I get on with all the staff, and do different things with each of them. If I needed something sorting out I would go to X or Y, I know I can complain and would fill in the form we have.’ Staff understand the importance of building positive relationships with young people. This enables the young people to feel safe and secure and allows staff to support and care for them. Young people’s daily experiences do fluctuate, with some making progress in particular areas. For example, for one young person this has been maintained as their longest placement to date. Another young person has increased his attendance and participation in school. A number of young people find it difficult to manage their emotions, and they have presented this through aggression and

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Requires improvement

challenging behaviour. There have been a number of serious incidents, which on occasions has resulted in their arrest for criminal behaviour. For a period, this has negatively affected their day-to-day experiences. The staff have persevered to support young people emotionally, and to encourage them to behave in socially acceptable ways and to reduce risk-taking behaviour, such as taking illegal substances. For instance, staff undertake frequent direct work sessions to discuss serious incidents and risk-taking behaviour to give guidance on how to make changes. Incentives are used to encourage and focus on positive behaviour. The staff team has continually reviewed the care and needs of young people, with two young people moving to new placements, one of these being a planned move. Young people have benefited from staff focusing on behaviour, and working with professionals and agencies to influence and assist in bringing a positive change in

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Requires improvement

this type of negative and unsafe behaviour. As a result, there has been progress, with a young person starting to respond positively, having more settled behaviour and more constructive experiences. Staff recognise the importance of young people attending school. Two young people attend full time education placements, with one young person increasing their positive participation in lessons and having good attendance. Staff work hard to engage young people who have had a long absence from school before their placement at the home. However, one young person’s alternative education placement has fallen short of a 25-hour timetable and they have had limited direct input and oversight from a qualified teacher to support further educational attainment. Young people have begun to work with staff more positively, engaging in school, following daily routines and participating in age-appropriate activities. A young

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Requires improvement

person said he had been to the east coast for the first time. He took pride in showing the photographs from his trip and his artwork. He said, ‘I’ve got a couple of bikes that I’m doing up,’ and ‘I enjoy spending time with staff.’ This shows that young people make positive attachments with those who care for them. They enjoy hobbies, interests and begin to thrive from their new experiences as well as gaining self-confidence. Young people benefit greatly from the promotion of healthy lifestyles, with them attending all their routine check-ups and health assessments. Staff assist young people to eat a balanced diet. Young people regularly take part in cooking meals with staff and gain good skills in this area. Physical activity, combined with young people’s interests, is actively encouraged. A young person said, ‘I play football’, and went out for a bike ride during the inspection. Young people are aware of the

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Requires improvement

risks to their health from smoking, drinking alcohol and taking illegal substances. Work is ongoing in this area. A drugs agency worker said, ‘X’s engagement has been good, we are working on what causes X to take illegal substances. This is helping X to understand the triggers. X is doing well.’ Therefore, young people’s health is improving. Young people readily give their views through daily conversations with staff and in weekly young people’s meetings. They are involved in making choices about the activities they wish to participate in, having contact with their parents and the menu planning. For example, a young person did discuss and negotiate the evening activity he wanted to do. This resulted in him going to the cinema. In addition, the independent reviewing officers seek young people’s views about their care. These inform the decision-making about their future, within their statutory reviews.

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Requires improvement

All young people have regular contact with their family. Young people make frequent phone calls and have weekly visits. Staff recognise the importance of family contact and demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting young people and their parents. This ensures that young people rebuild and maintain relationships with those who are important to them: it promotes their identity and feeling of belonging. Young people routinely help with chores around the house, such as cleaning their bedrooms weekly, processing their laundry and cooking meals with staff support. This ensures that young people gain the necessary daily living and independence skills, which are appropriate to their age. This equips them well, in their preparation for adulthood.

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Good

A young person said, ‘I do feel safe living here, I can talk to staff about things.’ Staff respond to young people’s concerns. During a period of unsettled behaviour, which involved escalating incidents of bullying, staff responded with intense work, support and supervision. Young people benefited greatly from the individual and group sessions on the understanding of the impact that bullying behaviour has for all involved. This assisted the young people to recognise that this behaviour was not acceptable, and they learned about giving support to the victim and the perpetrator. In addition, increased staff levels provided close supervision for each young person. Staff consulted with other professionals, giving high importance to this matter. As a result, staff implemented a safety plan. This promotes and protects young people’s well-being and safety.

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Good

Staff have persevered to manage the fluctuating behaviour of young people. This has involved the constant review of behaviour strategies, care approaches and risk assessments to address the negative behaviour presented. The young people’s high risk-taking behaviour has involved substance misuse, assaults and criminal damage. Staff have undertaken direct work with young people to address and reduce these long-standing activities. Further, input from youth offending officers, drugs workers and therapists has assisted in supporting young people. This has enabled young people to better manage their emotions, to behave in a socially acceptable way and to maintain boundaries and daily routines. After an unsettled period, the young people are positively engaging and have formed strong attachments to the staff team. As a result, they are thriving and responding to clear boundaries, positive praise and incentives.

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Good

Young people missing from home incidents are low in number. An independent person has not consistently undertaken the return home interviews. Staff undertake most, with some carried out by a police support agency. Staff do not always keep concise records of these interviews. For the majority of incidents, young people return home after a couple of hours. However, due to illegal drugs being easily accessible in the local community, young people are vulnerable and at risk of accessing such illicit substances. They have not been at risk of child sexual exploitation. Young people have responded well to the direct work on the risks of going missing and substance misuse in the last month. This work continues to ensure that young people keep themselves safe in the long term.

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Good

Staff implement safeguarding procedures. This demonstrates that they are clear on when and how to use them. The designated safeguarding office said, ‘The service has taken very prompt action to ensure that young people were kept safe while an incident was investigated.’ Staff spoke about other training that they have received which has provided them with a greater awareness and knowledge to support, care and safeguard young people relating to drugs awareness, gang affiliation and child sexual exploitation.

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Requires improvement

The service does not have a registered manager. However, the provider has been actively seeking to recruit to the post since the vacancy occurred in October 2015, with one manager commencing in the post but leaving within a month, and other recruitment drives being unsuccessful. Further interviews to recruit a permanent registered manager have been organised, and are imminent.

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Requires improvement

The deputy manager has taken up post as acting manager during this period. She holds the relevant qualifications for the position, has a wealth of experience and has undertaken this role on a number of occasions. She demonstrates a clear understanding of the service’s strengths and weaknesses, and articulates a clear plan of change for improving the care of young people.

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Requires improvement

The regulation 44 independent visitor and the acting manager have identified shortfalls and deficiencies in the quality of care and aspects of young people’s safety. As a result, they have made a number of necessary changes. For example, suitable action has been taken to address the concerns about the mix of young people, the increase in staffing levels to better support and more closely monitor young people and the decision not to have more than two young people in residence until a registered manager is in post. There has been an appointment to the acting deputy post, which has strengthened a depleted management team. In turn, this has kept young people safer and improved their day-to-day experiences. Young people have begun to make some progress.

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Requires improvement

The core staff team has substantial experience in working with young people. The staff are strongly committed, caring and persevering, with a good knowledge and understanding of the care needs of the young people. However, since the last inspection, there have been staff sickness and vacant posts. The manager has tried to use regular agency staff or staff from other Keys homes who have the relevant experience to provide suitable care. However, at times, this has had an adverse effect upon consistency and the quality of care provided. More recently, permanent staff have returned from sickness. This has reinstated the majority of the well- trained staff complement. Consequently, this has restored and enabled a more consist care approach, which young people respond to constructively.

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Requires improvement

Young people benefit from a homely, well-decorated environment. A young person said that he has a ‘nice bedroom’. He chose the colour scheme for his bedroom decoration and has personalised it. The home has undergone a full decoration programme and had repairs completed after young people had damaged a number of areas. This inviting environment provides young people with a home where they are comfortable and safe.

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Requires improvement

Staff say that they receive good support from the manager and from each other. They say that this has been a challenging period, but they remain focused on supporting and caring for young people, with the aim that young people have positive experiences and make continued progress. Staff receive formal supervision, attend regular staff meetings and have daily handovers to discuss and plan young people’s care in line with their care plan objectives.

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Requires improvement

The service has taken action to address the majority of the requirements made at the last inspection. This includes all young people having an education placement. The regulation 45 report undertaken by the manager now includes feedback and opinions from young people on the review of the care provided. The independent monthly monitoring report details and conveys how effectively young people are safeguarded.

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Requires improvement

The embedding in practice of one requirement is still in progress. This relates to the accurate matching and assessment of referrals based on up-to-date information of all children, including those already living in the home. This is to ensure that every young person’s care needs can be met and that the young people are compatible, to attain the best outcomes possible.

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Requires improvement

The service has not implemented one of the recommendations. Not all young people have received a full-time education package, directly overseen by a qualified person to support their educational progress.

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Requires improvement

Social workers and other professionals say that the staff communicate and work well with them, and they address promptly any issues which arise. They report that they work with young people with complex emotional and behaviour difficulties, which presents challenges and that they do this with commitment.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children’s home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children’s home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children’s home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children’s home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children’s home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children’s home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. the guidance ‘Raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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